Enviro Capital

In Wisconsin, for example, about $20 billion is sent out of state to import fossil fuels every year (there are none in the state). Green stimuli that staunch some of that flow will result in expenditures with much higher multipliers for the state economy. Wisconsin already has many leading companies in areas such as energy efficiency (Johnson Controls) and biomethane (WI leads the country at producing biomethane from cow manure, landfills, wastewater treatment, etc) and a green stimulus will help them to compete globally. This doesn’t address the states that produce oil, gas and coal, but the same argument can be made for the nation as a whole with respect to oil since the U.S. imports over 50 percent of the oil consumed.
Comment by Peter Taglia - January 5, 2009 at 8:14 pm
Mr. Harrop, Belfry and Taglia (and I) have one major thing in common which may be overlooked by some. Despite our expressed opinions, there is an implied interest in making a living from, improving, flurishing in pursuing “green” initiatives. Consider that “Pod-people” have focused passion which can overcome many obstacles including economic and fossil fuel-centric thinking. Entrepreneurs provide “noddle-power” and practical application of “green” opportunities that, although first consume capital in the “valley of death” (see article above) without much consumable benefit, in the process create jobs, awareness and yes, some material gain.
My impression is that we, as a nation, are being watched by the world. A nation that is about to rise from the economic ashes. In the interim, I’m learning from those, like you, that are more accutely connected to a specific “go” at green living/being. I’ve gone as far as researching the solar photon density map of N.A. Geeky, yes, but interesting to see that mid-continent is bombarded with solar energy at a rate much greater than coastal regions. I’m all about following the financial incentives to overlay my life with a less-carbon footprint. No carbon footprint is a long-range goal and less is more doable for those of us on a budget.
All, thanks for the common themed but diverse blogs on one of my favorite pursuits.
Comment by Warren Love - January 6, 2009 at 11:27 am
The fallacy of “green” jobs is they’ll lower GDP thus forcing the consumption of MORE goods and labor to maintain a constant income as taxes increase to fund the jobs and “industry” that can’t exist without government welfare.

Barrie, which is it? flooding or drought? how in the hell can your magical AGW produce both? Buy a reverse osmosis system to create the clean water and invest the monies you wanted to waste in something that will actually grow the economy instead raising Uncle Sam’s control of the economy.
Comment by Peter Foley - January 7, 2009 at 12:15 am
Green Jobs can provide a net gain for the economy if we include the value of a clean economy in the equation.
What is that value?
How about we start with the value of healthier children in the Appalachian region, which currently have high rates of asthma as a consequence of TVA Coal. Perhaps true that coal-miners would become home-insulators, but the kicker is the health dividend of the Children. Add to that diminished medical expenses. Moving GDP from doctors to weatherization installers increases the standard of living by flattening the income distribution.
Comment by Benjamin Gatti - January 7, 2009 at 12:40 am
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Environmental Capital provides daily news and analysis of the business of the environment. It tracks how growing green concern, particularly over climate change, is roiling established industries and spurring new ones – and how that shift is affecting investors, consumers and the planet. The Journal's Keith Johnson, who spent the past decade reporting from Europe, increasingly on energy issues, is the lead writer. The Journal’s Jeffrey Ball, who has covered the auto and oil industries and now covers the business of the environment, is the blog’s editor and a contributor. Environmental Capital also includes contributions from others at the Journal, WSJ.com, and Dow Jones Newswires. Write us at environmentalcapital@wsj.com.

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